Barangaroo project sparks new claims

The NSW Greens say conflict of interest concerns about a firm helping to assess James Packer's $1 billion Barangaroo proposal are another blow to the state government's transparency claims.

Deloitte has been appointed to offer independent commercial advice to the panel assessing Mr Packer's Crown Limited hotel and casino plan.

The company also audits a Hong Kong venture, Melco Crown, in which Mr Packer is a director.

Fairfax media on Wednesday reported Melco Crown paid Deloitte more than $2.6 million in 2011.

A spokesman for the Department of Premier and Cabinet said Deloitte had declared the potential conflict of interest.

"One of the criteria against which tenderers for the role of commercial adviser were assessed was the ability to identify and manage actual and potential conflicts of interest," the spokesman said in a statement.

"The Deloitte proposal disclosed that the separate Deloitte firm in Hong Kong is the external auditor to Melco Crown."

The spokesman said Deloitte was a global company and its "operations in each country are legally separate".

But Greens MP John Kaye said the approval process lacked credibility.

"Not only is it being conducted behind closed doors, with no public accountability but now the commercial adviser has a powerful financial relationship with the applicant," he said on Wednesday.

"James Packer's dream ride just got a lot dreamier."

The NSW government has already commissioned and received a Deloitte report into Mr Packer's Crown Limited proposal, including whether a casino is necessary for its financial viability.

But the government says the report is cabinet-in-confidence and will not be released.

The Greens want the Deloitte report to be made publicly available, while independent state MP for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, wants the auditor-general to step in.

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